MARLBOROUGH, Mass.— This October the Clocks, Watches & Scientific department at Skinner will feature two distinct sales: a timed online auction that closes October 20, and a live auction, Fine Horology: The Estate of David G. Newsom, on October 22. View the fully illustrated catalogs on LiveAuctioneers.
The Newsom Collection is the result of a lifetime of learning and passion for the art of timekeeping, from simple time-only watches to grand complicated minute repeaters with perpetual calendars, made by the most interesting and sought-after makers.
The collection features some of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s finest accomplishments, including a No. 2835 astronomical quarter-repeating watch that George Daniels described and illustrated in his book The Art of Breguet, and Breguet’s No. 2729 Une Minute tourbillon watch, for which it took Newsom, a close friend, and the Breguet Depuis 1775 firm five years to correctly reproduce the engine-turned 18K gold case, chain and key, as they had been lost decades ago.
Another highlight is Michel Parmigiani’s Meccanica I Unique Object Reference U1140, presented to David and his wife Carol, a testament to David’s appreciation for watchmaking across history.
The online sale, which closes October 20, will feature an array of fine timepieces, optical instruments and early musical devices. The sale begins with a collection of Swiss, European and American watches by some of the most sought-after brands including Patek Philippe, Waltham and Hamilton Watch Co. Highlights include an early stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 3700/1, and a Patek Philippe Reference 2526 18K gold automatic wristwatch.
Hans Wildorf’s sport model watches from his Rolex line must not be overlooked — Skinner will offer a few Cosmograph Daytonas and a special Rolex 18K gold reference 16758 Serti Dial GMT Master wristwatch with box and papers. Also showcased are watches that fall into the classic dress watch category, including some ultra-slim examples by Audemars Piguet and Vacheron & Constantin.
Early clocks by makers that are not often seen at auction include a circa-1765 Isaac Thomas carved curly walnut tall clock, from Willis Town, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and a so-called “dwarf” clock made by Joshua Wilder from Hingham, Massachusetts. Beautiful enameled French shelf and carriage clocks will appear in the lineup as well.
A small but impressive collection of microscopes from a New England collector includes an unmarked French Oberhauser-style drum microscope and accessories and an Elliot Brothers compound binocular and monocular microscope.
Early photography includes two Deardorff large format studio cameras.
The sale concludes with a musical concerto of disc and cylinder musical boxes from the late 19th century by some of the best Swiss firms.
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